Castle Rock police commander John Anderson announces run for sheriff

A commander with the Castle Rock Police Department has announced he will run for Douglas County sheriff.

Cmdr. John Anderson is the second Republican candidate to announce his intent, joining Douglas County Undersheriff Tony Spurlock. Anderson also ran for the office in 2006 against Sheriff Dave Weaver, whose second term expires in 2014.

“I’m going to bring a lot of positive changes to the sheriff’s office,” said Anderson, who made the announcement May 11. “It has been the same establishment for 34 years. I’m going to bring a different lens, introduce new programs and improve and enhance the professionalism of the department.”

Anderson, 57, began his law enforcement career 35 years ago with the Castle Rock Police Department. He is a native of the town and served as a captain until 2012, when new Chief Jack Cauley eliminated the department’s captain and lieutenant positions.

Facing a campaign that could last more than a year, Anderson plans to take what he learned from his first run for office and reach as many residents as possible over the next several months. He intends to focus on quality of life, community safety and customer service, which rank high on the list for Douglas County residents, he said.

“It’s a big county, people have questions,” Anderson said. “You have to reinforce what you say and it takes time. I think that’s very vital to let people know who you are so they have time to understand (your positions).The first time, I had no idea what running for office was. I was totally blind. I have learned how to network much better, how to understand what people in Douglas County want and need. I’ve placed myself in a situation where I’m very serious, very focused and I’m ready to go.”

Anderson will launch his campaign with a Unite and Celebrate Our Freedom party May 25 at his ranch south of Castle Rock. Supporters can find out more about the launch and his campaign at www.andersonforsheriff.org.